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In His Own Words – Sailfish of the River People

If you’ve read Indian Summer, you know Sailfish. He is Manuel’s best friend who helps Gabriella when she is pursued by the spy. While I was writing Indian Summer, Sailfish kept trying to do more and be more than I could allow him to be in that novel, so I gave him his own book. It’s not quite finished, but I’m having a great time writing Savage Heart.

Below is an interview with Sailfish. It incorporates some of the elements from Savage Heart.

What is your name?
You may call me Sailfish as my own language is hard for you to pronounce.

What do you want most?
I want to find love and gain the acceptance of my people.

Why is this so important to you?
Why does anyone want love? As to the acceptance, if I am to be chief after my uncle, I must have their approval.

What makes you happy or sad?
The death of my beautiful wife and son—that made me very sad. That Gabriella loves me for nothing but a dear friend, also saddens me. But finding Meli, that makes me happy.

How do you treat the people in your life?

I hope that I treat them well. I do my best, but often I disappoint them somehow. Or perhaps I disappoint myself?

Can people count on you?
My friends and family can always count on me for help.

What makes you angry?
The British general, Oglethorpe, makes me angry, as does the Spanish king. The fighting between these two nations has torn my country apart.

Do you stand up for your beliefs?
With everything that I am, and all that makes me a man, I stand for what I believe.

What excites you?
The thrill of the hunt, the beauty of a perfect sunrise, joy in the eyes of the woman I love.

What do you do for a living?
I am a warrior and scout.

What kind of books do you like?
I don’t have access to books, although my Blood Brother taught me to read. I don’t have time to sit and read a book. I never really saw the point.

What kind of music?
I like the music of the wind in branches, the pounding of the waves on the shore, the songs of birds and call of animals. All these are music to me.

What’s the one thing you’d most like to do before you die?
I want to find true love again. I thought I’d found it with Gabriella, but that was not to be. Perhaps with Meli? Who can say?

If you could, what’s one thing you’d change about yourself?A soulful look settles on his noble features and he hangs his head in silence. I think I would not fall in love with Gabriella.